Independence Day Celebrated in Schools

The Lebanese flag was raised, the national anthem was sung in all the sections, and there were artistic and educational workshops... A spectacular 81st Independence Day was celebrated at the Collège Sainte-Famille in Jounieh despite everything. 

Halt of Illegal Sand Extraction Work Off the Coast of Chekka

Illegal sand extraction operations on the beach of El Heri, located on the coast of the city of Chekka (North Lebanon), were halted after days of mobilization and negotiations, confirmed Pierre Abi Chahine, president of the Environmental Protection Committee in Chekka, on Wednesday evening to This is Beirut, following a visit to the site. The ...

Baalbeck Sites Endangered by Israeli Strikes: An Update from Governor Bachir Khodr

Following repeated evacuation orders directed at the residents of Baalbeck by Avichay Adraee, the Arabic-speaking spokesperson of the Israeli army, the Lebanese are anxious, fearing the potential destruction of the historic city. They are deeply concerned about the tragic fate of tens of thousands of people ordered to evacuate their towns and ...

Private Schools: An Increasingly Difficult Return to School

This school year, new security challenges are being added to the economic and financial crisis that has been ongoing since 2019. This Is Beirut takes you to the Sacred Heart College – Gemmayzeh to see how the start of the school year is going.

Back-to-School Preparations: Behind the Scenes at a Bookstore

As the new school year approaches, parents and their children flock to bookstores to purchase their necessary supplies. This year, they face the challenge of rising prices, compounded by increased school fees. Despite the ongoing crisis, some bookstores are adopting innovative marketing strategies to draw in more customers. However, not all ...

Baalbeck Festival: A Memorable Ode to the Oud

The Baalbeck International Festival finally took place, albeit far from the City of the Sun. On Thursday evening, at the Caracalla Theatre in Beirut, Charbel Rouhana, accompanied by his Lebanese sextet, and the Trio Joubran, enchanted the audience, giving pride of place to the oud, an instrument symbolizing peace and harmony.

EDL Blackout: What About the Investigation?

Following the widespread blackout of Électricité du Liban (EDL) on August 17, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati requested that the Central Inspection Authority shed light on the causes of this outage, which brought the country to a standstill. How is the investigation proceeding? Caretaker Minister of Energy and Water Walid Fayad, along ...

Hezbollah “Forces an Israeli Plane to Retreat”: Khaled Hamade Clarifies

Hezbollah’s air defense units “fired an anti-aircraft missile” at Israeli warplanes flying over south Lebanon”, forcing them “to retreat from the Lebanese airspace”, according to a communiqué published by Hezbollah on the night of Thursday to Friday. Is it a game changer or an incident that can be exploited politically by ...

Beirut Chants El Sistema: The ACT Project to Prevent Radicalization

Beirut Chants El-Sistema organized a concert on Tuesday at Saint Vartan Church in Bourj Hammoud, featuring over 75 choristers and musicians accompanied by their teachers. The aim: to prevent radicalization, terrorism and cybercrime, and build a culture of peace through music. Bourj Hammoud was chosen because of the cultural, ethnic and religious ...

Guesthouses: A Better Summer Than Expected

Guesthouses have been booming in Lebanon in recent years. They are highly sought-after, and the quality of what is being offered is continually improving. This Is Beirut invites you to discover four guesthouses located in various Lebanese regions, while interviewing experts to assess the season in light of the crises and repercussions of the ...

Kick-Off of the Magnificent 'Byblos en Blanc et Rosé' Wine Festival

Summer is looking promising in Byblos, where the ninth edition of the “Byblos en blanc et rosé” festival kicked off on Thursday at the city's historic port. Organized by Eventions, in partnership with the municipality of Byblos, the event will keep the Phoenician town buzzing until Saturday, June 29.

World No Tobacco Day: Words From Lebanese Smokers

Smoking is a major cause of cancer in Lebanon, exacerbating the challenges in a country already facing unprecedented socio-economic crises. Despite the efforts of some to find alternatives, the problem persists.

Is Ersal Paving the Way for the Return of the Syrian Migrants?

This is Beirut takes you to the camps of Ersal, a village north-east of Baalbeck-Hermel, where voluntary return convoys, comprising 330 Syrian migrants according to the municipality, were organized last Tuesday. These migrants had registered with General Security centers to facilitate their return home.

Syrian Migrants: Lebanese Forces to Present Law Proposal to Parliament

  The President of the Parliamentary Committee on Administration and Justice, Georges Adwan, announced that a draft law on organizing the presence of Syrians in Lebanon and the modalities of their repatriation will be presented to Parliament. During a press conference he held on Tuesday at Place de l'Étoile, Adwan called for "sending back ...

Redevelopment of Public Gardens in Ashrafieh, a Breath of Fresh Air

Several public gardens in Ashrafieh have been redeveloped since the 2019 crisis. These are initiatives undertaken by residents, in collaboration with the municipality of Beirut and many  associations, with the aim of breathing new life into the green spaces that are sorely lacking in the capital.

Skaff to TIB: 1701 Needs to Be Implemented

MP Ghassan Skaff told This Is Beirut that UNSC 1701 needs to be implemented in its current form and estimated that the international community will be able to stop a full-blown war through diplomatic measures.

Bou Assi to TIB: 1701 Needs to Be Applied for Lebanon's Sake

Lebanese Forces MP Pierre Bou Assi said to This Is Beirut that Resolution 1701 needs to be implemented, not only because it is a UN Security Council Resolution that needs to be applied in conformity with international accords and conventions, but also for the sake of the Lebanese, to preserve their security and safety.

Is Return Impossible for Displaced Persons in Southern Lebanon?

For the past seven months, the displaced people of southern Lebanon have been impatient to return to their homeland, where war continues to rage between Hezb and Israel. Not only do they fear for their future, but they also have to contend with the high cost of rent, among other things. Many of the displaced have to draw on their reserves to ...

In Beit Mery, Chronicle of a Municipality

A few days before the plenary session devoted to extending the terms of office of municipal councils and mukhtars, This is Beyrouth takes you to the exemplary municipality of Beit Mery. Organization, meticulousness, perseverance and dedication to public service have long characterized its members.

Lebanese Civil War: 49th Anniversary Commemorative March

On the 49th anniversary of the Lebanese civil war, the NGO "Fighters for Peace" organized a march on Monday bringing together fighters who took part in the conflict. Made up of several stops, the march began at the National Museum and ended at Beit Beirut in the emblematic Sodeco district, which still bears the scars of the war that lasted from ...

Gaza and Southern Lebanon: A Dual-Front Warfare?

“The US is currently exerting pressure to deter Israel from invading Rafah, but this is leading to an escalation on the Lebanese front,” asserted retired General Khaled Hamadeh. Lebanese citizens are holding their breath, closely scrutinizing every development in South Lebanon, where the war raging between Israel and Hezbollah could take a ...

Lebanon of Tomorrow Spring Market Kicks Off Again

For the second year running, the NGO Lebanon of Tomorrow is organizing a spring market in Sassine Square in Achrafieh, which will run until Sunday.

Ode to Lebanese Mothers

On the occasion of Mother's Day, some Lebanese paid tribute to the Lebanese mother and to their own mothers in particular.

March 14... 19 Years Already

March 14, 2005: the Cedar Revolution is underway. More than a million Lebanese took to Martyrs' Square, demanding the departure of Syrian troops that had been present on Lebanese soil for almost 30 years, and justice for the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri. A look back at the main stages of this journey.

Ramadan: Rising Prices Impact Iftar Preparations

Many Muslims flocked to the stores on Monday to buy supplies for iftar on the first day of Ramadan. However, they encountered a significant increase in prices compared to last year.

August 4: Inauguration of the Roof Structure at the Zahrat El-lhsan School

A high-level delegation visited the Zahrat El-lhsan School on Tuesday to inaugurate the completion of the reconstruction of its traditional roof structure, which was ravaged by the explosion on August 4. The project was made possible thanks to a collaboration between the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Beirut and the Oeuvre d'Orient, ALIPH and ...

Khalil Helou: Mutual Political Will Key to Stability in South Lebanon

International diplomatic negotiations are intensifying with a view to a new truce between Hamas and Israel. Two weeks before the start of Ramadan, the progress of these talks and the conditions of a possible truce remain unclear following a meeting in Paris between Americans, Qataris, Egyptians and Israelis, and in light of recent indirect ...